opinoins wanted on falls

[Mothergoose]

To anyone who has had falls etc since getting diagnosed with IC

I have a question along the lines of getting injured, I have randomly read off others reporting of falls etc.

I hurt a knee this past winter. The first time I fell on the ice getting out of my truck, I landed on my knees, elbow and a hip. Hurt but I thought I was just bursied, I am ussally very carefull and walk on icy roads alot with no falls. Then a few days later I again fell in my driveway again on my knees and hands. This time it knocked the wind out of me but I survied. So after this my knees were many pretty colors and swollen 2x the normal size, everything healed up okay but one knee, which was not too much of a problem but I could not kneel on it even on my soft bed.

I put up with this for a couple of months then asked my GP about it as one knee was still swellon and bursied, he drain a bunch of fluid off of it and then put a shot of cortisone in it, he said in about 3 days it should feel quite a bit better, and it did.

Then a couple of days later I was carring a too heavy suitcase through a doorway, I caught one foot on the other and fell hard only on the one problem knee.

Even with ice it swelled up really big, then although not too painful it started to lock up on me, by the time I got home from my holiday and to my GP he said now the swelling was under the knee cap causing the locking of my knee. Now things have settled down.

I have read of a few others who report on injuring themselves, I wonder do we walk more cautiously because our bladders hurt and then don't pay as close attention to what we are doing.

I don't know, I do know each time I fell I had a UTI and was in pain, and I do know I have not fallen so much in years.

Just a question and a thought, not a direct cause of IC, but more or less a side effect of having IC.

What do you think?

MG

[VickiB]

It's an interesting concept.

So much of what we do is subconscious. With walking, for example, we don't really think about what we're doing to actually make it happen,..we just walk. I wonder if the state of being in pain can affect one's focus on that subconscious level, potentially leading to a misstep causing a fall?

I have been seeing more injuries over the last few years but write it off as something that comes with age. Old joints and a slower reaction time is a recipe for trouble.

Vicki

[Mothergoose]

Stillwondering if anyone else feels IC has led them to injury themselves more easily.
???

[tigger_gal]

MG I am an accident waiting to happen. I was in the pool playing with they kids, I think I broke my tail bone. There has been times I have been walking an tripped for no reason. Fell out a door. HHHMMM interesting maybe it needs looked into further.:confused:

[Mothergoose]

I drive a suburban, like a truck but is all covered in, it has big tires so it is higher off the ground like a truck. I had my scared cat in my arms and went to step out of truck, we had a fresh bit of snow on the ice and I didn't realize there was ice, and bofore I knew it my feet were out frond under me, and I was down.

MG

[ICNDonna]

Unfortunately, once people take a fall, especially if there's an injury, it makes it easier to fall again. I know I badly sprained an ankle at age 18 and I STILL have to be cautious with my left foot --- and it's been re-sprained several times.

:grouphug:
Donna

[Mothergoose]

yea Donna I agree with this idea, I actually fell and hurt my knee several times in my tens which was a long time ago now, but as i age they fell that i damamged the cartilage many years ago which has proved to be problems for me as I age.

Before IC and I could exercise everyday it was not problem because as long as I keep my thigh muscles strong it lifts the knee cap up a bit and the bone doesen't grind on the bone.

But with IC this sometime proves to be a bit of a problem for me.

I walk and swim , but with retention I am so pron to UTI's that even if I get treated right away spread to my right kidney now, which seems to make me really sick and unable to exercise for 6 weeks at a time.

I am just getting over my last uti which spread but this time I took AB's right away, it was weekend , I always have some on hand for just this reason. I still needed to take 2 course of AB's, which make me not sleep, but I did not get anywhere near as sick as ussall. I was in a lot of pain but I didn't feel as bad as i have been, so even though it just ended I am able to start walking again, only for short walks till i build up my energy, plus it is a good excuse to not walk to far in my new shoes that are supposed to lessen impack on back and help shap legs.

Thanks MG

[Goldfinch]

I went through a period of about a year and a half when I fell several times. Walking my dog I tripped on the sidewalk and fractured my elbow . In the dark, drunk, I fell on some uneven concrete steps and gave myself a rotator cuff injury. Trying to squeeze into some tight jeans, hopping about, I lost my balance, hit the door and broke my nose. There were a few other falls too, which luckily did not result in major damage. I began to worry that I was getting clumsy or something was wrong with my balance.

I started watching where I was going more carefully. I found that I was rarely looking ahead to anticipate obstacles like tree roots or uneven sidewalk or an invisible curb. At first I had to really concentrate. Then I think it became more instinctual. I haven't tripped or hurt myself at all in the last three years. We look ahead routinely when we drive, but less so when we walk--we're too busy talking to the person next to us or daydreaming. It may not be the whole story, but I think it helps to be aware of what's in front of your feet. That counts double for getting out of a car. My neighbor parked on a gash in the the pavement the other day at Target, got out, and promptly caught her foot in the crack. She broke her arm.

I have a hard time blaming this on my bladder, although I've heaped enough blame on the poor thing in the last few years to cover all bets.

[blazer 55]

Your post today made me laugh plum out loud. We do take ourselves too serious and forget to laugh. And I loved your comment about blamming every ache and pain on your bladder. In my world, if something is screaming below the waist, it's IC related. However, last year when I slipped on some water from a sippy cup my granddaughter was drinking from, I couldn't blame breaking my foot on my bladder. Nor could I blame it when I sprained the other foot when I fell going down the steps to the lake. Goodness you and I are either related or taking some of the same drugs.

Try to not fall down and thanks again for having a sense of humor and sharing. Oh by the way, stay on your feet and buy bigger jeans.

[icbeauty]

I don't think my falling is because of IC. I have been falling my whole life. It's one of the few things I do well. I even fell down the stairs outside my apartment a few weeks ago and am still in pain.

However, I don't really think I walk more carefully because of my bladder. The weird thing for me is that there are times that I am having a bladder flare, but if I go running, I'll feel better. So I try to exercise even when my bladder is hurting. I've only fallen once while running, and that was because my dog got distracted by a squirrel and cut in front of me.

I think I'm just clumsy. I try to fix it though by wearing sensible shoes and not drinking much (a glass of wine before bed is the most for me). I know that I need to start increasing my calcium intake though because one of my falls this past month resulted in another fractured bone in my foot. Fortunately, I'm used to fractures in my feet (long story, lol), so I don't really feel the pain anymore, lol.

[blazer 55]

Hey maybe you need a bone density test. It might be worth looking into. However, extra calcium doesn't help you from falling down. I think we just don't pay enough attention to what we're doing sometimes. And the older we get the easier it is to blame it on our age. Age does play dirty tricks on us.

Exercise always makes my bladder feel better. But I think it is because it gets my mind off my IC. I'm going to the beach for the next couple of days and I plan to walk and soak up some rays. A little vaca is always good as long as I plan where to stop and pee on the way. My urges drive me crazy when traveling. But it calms down generally when I get there. Oh well, that's IC.

I believe laughing at ourselves keeps us real. Have a great week. Cyndi in NC

[VickiB]

And the older we get the easier it is to blame it on our age. Age does play dirty tricks on us.
I think where I notice it most is in that fraction of time between where I've slipped or tripped, and the realization dawns that I'm going down and it isn't going to be pretty. When I was younger my reaction time was quicker. Quite often I could save recover my balance with some fancy footwork. Not so much anymore.

[Mothergoose]

I think for me sometimes I rush too much, I spend so much time sitting aournd or resting from IC pain or UTI that I realize I have got nothing done and no dinner made so I end up rusing around to get things done.

For sure when I rush around I am less careful of what I am doing.

My mind still want so do everything but my body dosen't.

Yes I think age has to do with it too, I agree our reaction time becomes slower, just when we need it to be better, life plays cruel tricks on us.

We are always having to deal with something.

MG

[icbeauty]

I do agree that I should do a bone density test soon. I never really had a big dairy intake except for cheese and yogurt. I know it won't keep me from falling, but it might help strengthen my bones and keep me from breaking stuff. I definitely don't want to get hurt again.

Any recommendations on a calcium supplement?

[blazer 55]

I started taken Calcium Citrate Plus with every meal to help balance the acidity in my food. It does seem to help somewhat and I guess I'm getting the added benefit of the supplement for my bones. My density test came back normal and my doctor said he would do another one in three years when I turn 60. So I guess I'll have to wait and see whether or not it has long term benefits. I also take 2 Aloe Vera tablets 3 times a day to help keep my badder healthy. I just started those 2 weeks ago. Dr. Evans said both supplements can't hurt as long as I can tolerate them. So far, so good.

Be sure and ask your doctor if you should consider taking calcium. Not everything is right for everyone. I'll check in on the posting here next week when I get home from the beach and see if your still standing. HA! HA!

[Mothergoose]

Have fun at the beach, don't fall:lmao::lmao:

MG